Page 68 of Vinny

While she had been perusing him from head to toe, he had been staring at the vision in front of him as well. Every inch of her was elegant. The hair. The dress. The makeup. The shoes. Elegant. And perfect.

“Princess,” he called softly, holding out his hand.

She glided toward him, taking his much larger hand in hers. “Babe, you take my breath away.”

Smiling, she ducked her head, but he lifted it again with his fingers under her chin. He offered her a kiss. Just a touch on the lips. Just a promise.

A knock on the door interrupted their moment and as Vinny called out, Jobe entered. He looked almost as marvelous as Vinny and she smiled as she walked over to welcome him.

Jobe looked her over, his eyes twinkling as he took her hand and lifted it to his mouth to place a kiss there. She giggled as Vinny gently pulled her back.

“You get the harp and I get the girl,” Vinny jokingly reminded him.

“Just my luck. Well, come on Easnadh,” Jobe said, as he carried the case down to the limousine that waited for them.

“We can’t afford to fuck this up tonight.”

“You think I don’t know that? You think I haven’t laid awake every night trying to figure out how to get our hands on that harp?”

“All I know is I’ve got no plans of this taking me down. And if I make one more call to Jawan, then the next thing coming from California is someone to take care of me—permanently!”

“Shut-up! You’re not making this any better. I’ve got this. It won’t fail.”

The two continued to argue for several minutes, each hoping that tonight, this entire fucked up situation would be over.

Once at the Richmond Concert Hall, Vinny left Annalissa’s side reluctantly as she made her way with Easnadh to the ballroom upstairs. The guests were still meandering around as they arrived, hors d’ouevers being passed by the wait-staff. As they made their way to the room where the evening’s activities were taking place, Tony’s men mingled.

Tony had several men outside providing their regular security service for some of the city’s dignitaries. Security cameras had been installed on the inside of the ballroom focusing on the small stage where Easnadh would be for most of the evening. BJ was at the helm of the van outside, monitoring the cameras and training another new hire.

On the inside, Tony placed the men he trusted the most. Terrance and Doug had been working for him for about a year and had earned the right to work security on the inside. Gabe, Jobe, Vinny, and Tony himself considered Annalissa and her harp to be their mission. And one they would not fail.

Once upstairs, she saw Maurice near the small platform stage where they would perform. Making her way over to him, she set her harp down to offer him a congratulatory hug.

“Oh, Mr. Feinstein, this evening is all for you. And I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more.”

Returning her hug, he smiled warmly down at his protégé. “Malyshka, I am so pleased to have you with me tonight.”

Sharon called her over from the side of the platform and Annalissa made her way toward her. “Hey, Parker and I are in a small room back here if you want to touch up. Todd said that we can use this room and you can leave your case here if you need.”

She followed her into the room, surprised that it held mostly stacked chairs that were not being used. There was a temporary mirror that Parker had placed on the wall and was already moving her in front of it.Fixing a few pins in her hair, he declared her ready for any performance.

Sharon had stepped through a door at the back and was re-entering, tossing a cigarette behind her. There was a small balcony overlooking the river beyond her. “Sorry,” she grimaced. “I just can’t break the habit. I know it’s nasty and I always go outside so I won’t get any cigarette smoke on you.”

Parker waved his hand in front of his face, fanning the last of the smoke away. “That’s why this room is so good—you can have that outside door if you need it.”

Sharon moved in front of her, eyes roaming over Annalissa’s face. “Makeup looks good, dearie.”

Smiling, Annalissa walked out of the room, setting Easnadh’s case at the edge of the platform, near the door. Taking the instrument out on the stage, she placed it next to Maurice’s violin, nervously patting it.

“Annalissa,” came a call from behind. In no time, she was surrounded by Gordon, Todd, and her father. The guests had moved to the ballroom and she was ushered to her seat at the place of honor next to Maurice.

The dinner passed quickly, although Annalissa had to admit to herself that the conversation was tiresome. An elderly senator, who appeared to be attempting to enter the campaign race a little early, and his wife dominated the conversation. She could hear Gordon from the table behind corner an airline mogul and was trying to hash out a deal for her travel. Todd, at another table, was whining to the waiter about his wine not being the proper temperature.

Just when she wanted to face-plant into her plate,her gaze landed on Vinny. He was staring straight at her as well. With a wink her way he moved around the room, seemingly casual, but she knew he was on high alert.

Finally, it was time for her and Maurice to step up on the platform stage to perform. They settled their instruments, beginning a violin and harp duet. The music flowed from her fingertips once again, weaving a spell over the audience. She closed her eyes occasionally, letting the rhythm move through her. When she would open them, she would glance at her partner, but find that he was as lost in the melody as she was.

Vinny stood in the back of the room, not taking his eyes off of her.Perfection, he thought. The moving vibrations flowed over him, finding their healing way deep inside. She had taken his agony and turned it into peace. She looked as though Easnadh was merely an extension of herself. The two needing each other to make the music as beautiful as it could be.

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